Thunder at Clippers: Pregame Primer
vs. 
Los Angeles Clippers (3-5, 2-3 home) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-4, 1-2 road)
TV: KSBI-HD (Cox 15, HD 715)
Stream: Click Here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 9:30 CST
View from the enemy: ClipperBlog
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 101.7 (22nd), Clippers – 102.9 (21st)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 97.2 (4th), Clippers – 106.2 (14th)
Pace: Thunder – 91.2 (24th), Clippers – 98.2 (5th)
Oh boy! It’s Oklahoma native Blake Griffin against his hometown! What a matchup! The anticip– what’s that? Oh.
The Clippers had won three straight, but got absolutely waxed by New Orleans Monday night. Their three wins: Memphis, Golden State, Minnesota. Combined record: 4-18. Probably the most impressive game the Clips have had was a two-point loss to Phoenix. Other than that, they really haven’t been competitive in their other losses. And after the way Oklahoma City played in a “should win” game last night, it would make sense for the Thunder to come out excited and with something to prove. We had visions of two straight on the road, but honestly a split is a step forward from last year.
THE MATCHUPS
It’s all about Chris Kaman inside. He’s been outstanding thus far for L.A., averaging over 20 a game. And with the way last night’s game went in Sacto, the Marcus Camby and Kaman just became terrifying. Rebounding and post defense will be major issues tonight to keep an eye on. Nenad Krstic and Jeff Green have been OK this season, but this may the most formidable front court they’ve faced yet. I think we’ll have a good amount of Etan Thomas in our lives tonight.
Yet again though, OKC catches a break and plays a team without its best scorer, as Eric Gordon is out. Rasual Butler steps in and while a good player, takes away the Clips main slash and score option. Baron Davis can still get it done, but Gordon was really good at penetrating and kicking or just knocking down consistent jumpers. Russell Westbrook is a tough match for Davis too, because of the quickness, you see.
I feel like we could be headed for another big night from KD. Al Thornton is a hit-and-miss defender and can often get completely taken out of his game. And the Clipper bench doesn’t add much with Ricky Davis, Craig Smith and Bassy Telfair being the first guys off it. With James Harden returning to his hometown and his nice showing last night, I’d expect a solid game from him.
It’s all about rebounding and interior defense tonight. I think OKC should and will take this one, and I’d be horribly disappointed if it didn’t. I can forgive last night because the Kings are an improving club and the Thunder’s still figuring out how to be consistent on the road. But the Clips are hurting without Griffin and Gordon and they weren’t all that great to start with.
One thing I’m happy about is that Earl Watson is gone. Yeah, mainly because he was not good at basketball, but also because any time OKC played the Clips all you had to hear about it how Baron Davis and Watson are friends and then you had to watch them jostle and mess with each other the whole game. And when Watson is 2-8 from the floor with three turnovers, it kind of pisses you off.
Tip at 9:30 CST (ugh). Go fight win.
Wow Ibaka being a defensive presence out there!
don’t worry – RW is due back in soon . . .
OHHHH!!!! And he just drives down the lane and scores!
@Kev
My point is that everyone wants to get on Westbrook when he does exactly that. I love Hardins play. I just think everyone needs to chill out a little on Russ. Hes learning and you must be blind to not see improvement. And Hardins A/TO is in about 15 min a game. So the sample size isnt that great.
Wow Ibaka is a beast tonight in the 4th quarter, nice!
Out of curiosity, why aren’t we playing Etan Thomas any?
Westbrook has had a huge hand in all 3 of our wins this season… i like Harden’s game a lot, but I think this is a case of people falling in love with the backup QB, so to speak.
Dear Scott
Please leave RW on the bench. Thank you
Kev
I do think that Westbrook needs to settle down on offense but keep his intensity on D but that only happens with experience.
@Blake
We get on westbrook because the thing that he contributes to the team most frequently are wild passes and drives to the basket that never amount to anything good for us. On top of that when he’s running the offense the ball does not move and the flow stagnates
If you can’t see that you’re in denial
he’s also had a huge hand in our losses . . .
@dylan
Totally agree
I co-sign this
@Kev
So has Durant, though. You want to put him on the bench?
No one is saying Russ is great, he definitely struggles at times. There are legit gripes about him (Don’s stupid hyperbole aside), but people are acting like he’s the enemy because Harden and Ollie have had a nice quarter and a half tonight. It makes no sense.
Thank you Brooks for FINALLY letting players stay in when they do well . . .
silly statement when Durant has carried us offensively while RW has been a non-factor on both ends – comparing the two makes no sense – that’s like comparing Michael Jordan and Toni Kukoc . . .
No wants to bench RW permanently, we are talking about this game only . . .
@The DON
HAHA! Thats right im in denial about our 2nd yr point guard. But I will say that hes probably going to turn into All-Star material sittin on the bench everyday. I guess thats how he is suppose to get better.
Harden and ollie backcourt = a significantly better offense and ball movement
@Kev
I’m not talking about tonight. I agree with leaving Russ on the bench down the stretch if he’s struggling and everyone else is playing well (like tonight).
I’m talking about the overreaction every time Westbrook messes up.
Sorry I just now turned on the game and checked the box score and don’t want to read through all these comments, but where is Etan Thomas?
@KB
Not sure, though I think Collison and Krstic are getting more minutes because they’re mostly spot up shooters and Brooks wants them to spread Kaman and Camby out of the paint.
Hmm… figured he would see more minutes than usual to guard Kaman… but only with minutes played right now.
4*
@dylan
Thank you, I also think that you should go with the ones that are producing towards the end of the game. I get the sense that people are expecting too much from this young team and are going to overreact and not give them time to develop.
good question
HAHA Serge fouled out in a half (pretty much). I like it though. I say bring him in for 15 min a game every game. Love the energy regardless of the fouls.
assuming Ollie stays in, I will expect Durant to get plenty of looks during these final moments . . .
KD back to being clutch again!
He has been huge. If it wasn’t for him the clips would’ve run away with this game in the 3rd
YES KD!! Lets finish now.
simple – get Durant the ball late – let him operate . . . that was a slick move on the baseline . . .
GREAT DEFENSE BY KRSTIC
Nice D!! atta boy Krispy…
EXCELLENT Defense Krstic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ollie will drive down the lane, throw the ball off the backboard to himself, catch it in the air, put it between his legs and dunk it to seal the game.
book it.
^^ haha
That was pretty close to what you predicted.
Well, not quite how i called it, but I got the gist of it right: Ollie seals the game
ironically, we won tonight because Ollie did all the things that Russ does when he’s playing well
Ollie playing one hell of a game tonight! Good finish for OKC.
Nice road win. Back to .500
Cool as ice. I love Ollie’s right eye brow, but he looks pretty stressed.
@The DON
yes, you correctly predicted ollie missing the game-winner and getting a lucky bounce
you incorrectly predicted us losing the game when we were down 3 in the third quarter, lol
Ollie and Nick are similar even though they play different postions – they know how to play the game and stuffing the stat sheet isn’t a priority . . .
———————
This is how you take care of business against a non-playoff team . . .
Oh, F you Dumbleavy.
good point . . .
fess up Don – I told you to have faith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thabo kind of scaring me there at the buzzer, hahaha. Just let him shoot!
I wonder if Gordon is gonna be available on Sun?
WHEW! It would’ve been devastating if we lost this game too.
Now off to san antonio on saturday to steal one!
p.s. Ollie > CP3
WHEW- these guys are going to kill me. Good win.
Woot!